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defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Defend Digital Me
@defenddigitalme.bsky.social
130 followers 200 following 54 posts
Defend Digital Me is a call to action to protect learners’ rights to privacy. We are teachers and parents who campaign for safe, fair and transparent data processing in education, in England, and beyond. http://defenddigitalme.org
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defenddigitalme.bsky.social
“Learning about learners: Protecting Children's #Data” @PrivacyInternational.org with @JenPersson.com (June 2025).

Current issues in education in England: What’s in a National Pupil Record? #EdTech, #AI, what futures are possible and how and why it matters

privacyinternational.org/video/5598/l...
Learning about learners protecting children’s data — Privacy International podcast from June 2025 interview with Defend Digital Me — “the technology pill” images on orange background with white text.
June 17, 2025 at 12:08 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Excited to be participating at the ‘Data Tech and Black Communities’ report launch in Birmingham.

The first part of a wide range of their work. On #edTech #pupildata and #HumanRights empowering children and families in state education in England. dtbc.org.uk

More coming soon.
A photo of the executive summary of the ‘Data Tech and Black Communities’ report: “what if we took stewarding children’s data seriously?” The first part of a wide range of their work. On #edTech #pupildata and #HumanRights empowering children and families in state education in England. dtbc.org.uk A photo from slides shown at the ‘Data Tech and Black Communities’ report launch: “what if we took stewarding children’s data seriously?” This slide is of the website dtbc.org.uk More coming soon. A photo from slides shown at the ‘Data Tech and Black Communities’ report launch: “what if we took stewarding children’s data seriously?” This slide is talking about the advertising in EdTech A photo from slides shown at the ‘Data Tech and Black Communities’ report launch: “what if we took stewarding children’s data seriously?” This slide is talking about the commercial exploitation and incentives in EdTech that are not in the best interests of the child
June 7, 2025 at 1:24 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
On #WorldVampireDay — you can use a ‘Subject Access Request’ to ask the DfE for a copy of all the personal data sucked out from your school about you or your child since 2002.

Find out: Who’s been given it & why? What is kept forever? #DraculaDay #Education

defenddigitalme.org/my-school-re...
Know any data vampires? White text in orange tile with three bat silhouettes in corners
May 26, 2025 at 9:35 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
School pupils’ ‘sex survey’ data offered to researchers: Opt out fails children on reuse of #ID and Local Authorities’ survey

defenddigitalme.org/2025/02/05/s...

#Scotland #Health #Wellbeing #DataBill #DUABill #CWBSBill #DataProtection #privacy #AI #Copyright Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill
A card to accompany the blogpost: School pupils’ ‘sex survey’ data offered to researchers: Opt out fails children on reuse of ID and research https://defenddigitalme.org/2025/02/05/school-pupils-sex-survey-data-offered-to-researchers-opt-out-fails-children-on-reuse-of-id-and-research/ Where the headline text is on the right of the card below the Defend Digital Me logo and superimposed on a transparent background image of a government building, Scottish flag, question marks and shadow of a child, all below 'the hand of the state' and zeros and ones in white on pink.
February 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Catch up on our #UnwrappingPupilData thread from Advent 2024. We've got all 24 facts in one place. Thanks for following. We wish everyone a Happy New Year.

See you in 2025 for more on reform to UK #DataProtection law, and how the #DUABill affects use and access to our 23 million+ #PupilData records
December 30, 2024 at 3:50 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 24. That's a wrap for #Advent2024 Read the latest updates and what we're doing about it, after the ICO #PupilData audit defenddigitalme.org/national-pup...

#NewYear2025 Find out what's in your own or your child's record bit.ly/3J21a8S #MyRecordsMyRights #DUABill #DataProtection
This is a yellow card with a pink bauble at the top and Defend Digital Me logo below the text in black that reads, Day 24. We've unwrapped the National Pupil Database this advent. The ICO audit in 2024 revealed even more. Read all about it at https://defenddigitalme.org/national-pupil-data-the-ico-audit-and-our-work-for-change-a-timeline/ Then find out what's in your own (or your child's) records too. https://bit.ly/3J21a8S #MyRecordsMyRights #DUABill #DataProtection Merry Christmas everyone.
December 24, 2024 at 12:09 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 23 #Advent2024 In November 2019, national school pupil records of 2,136 children who attended one school during a four-year period, were given to Merseyside police. Despite FOI requests, we still don’t know why. #DataProtection #PupilData #DUABill defenddigitalme.org/wp-content/u...
Day 23 of the Defend Digital Me #Advent2024 facts about the National Pupil Database. The text says: In November 2019 a total of 2,136 national school pupil records who attended one school during a four-year period, were given to Merseyside police. Despite FOI requests, we still don’t know why. For more background see: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/pupil_data_police_data_access_ho#incoming-1687313 -- and the request https://defenddigitalme.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Police-Request-DFE-DPA_Redacted.pdf We believe there should be much more transparency and accountability around police re-use of national admin records to ensure safe, fair and lawful use. This card is a white and yellow design with a gingerbread man wearing a pink bow tie off to the left side and a yellow bauble above with the number 23 in white.
December 23, 2024 at 10:45 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 22 #Advent2024 Home Office national pupil data use to further the aims of the Hostile Environment began in 2015. While collection of pupil nationality was stopped, other data is reused to match and find people. By July 2024, 1,801 records had been handed over. defenddigitalme.org/continuing-a...
Day 22 #Advent2024 The Home Office punitive uses of national pupil data including monthly handovers began in secret in 2015. The #BoycottSchoolCensus campaign ended the collection of children’s nationality, but by July 2024, 7.2K had been requested and 1,801 records handed over. More information can be read by following the link in the post. This picture card shows bottom right two lit candles with green holly and pink baubles in front. A hot pink bauble hangs above with the the number 22.
December 22, 2024 at 9:58 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 21 #Advent2024 The DfE has said it does not track how many or whose pupils’ records it gives away each time it gives out several years’ worth of identifying data www.gov.uk/government/p...

The whole database is constantly growing, now at over 23 million people. #DUABill #DataProtection
This is a card on a yellow background to celebrate Day 21 of the defend digital me #Advent2024 series. The DfE has said it does not track how many or whose pupils’ records it gives away each time it gives out several years’ worth of data. The whole database is constantly growing, now at over 23 million people. The image is a pink santa hat with holly and berries on the trim. A pink baunbvle hangs with the number 21 to the top right.
December 21, 2024 at 2:14 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 20 #Advent2024 Companies, think tanks, TV and newspaper journalists, as well as academic researchers are among registered recipients and users of identifying pupil data. Plus other government departments like the Home Office and DWP, and the police. #DataProtection #DUABill
Who has been given national pupil data? Day20 Advent 2024. Companies, think tanks, TV and newspaper journalists, as well as academic researchers are among registered users of identifying pupil data. Plus other government departments like the Home Office and DWP, and the police. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dfe-external-data-shares This card has a navy background with white snowflakes in front and a white bauble on which the text is superimposed. A yellow bauble hangs above with the number 20.
December 20, 2024 at 9:53 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 19 #Advent2024 Identifying data has been given away by the Department over 2,500 times since 2012, for millions of pupils, including sensitive data. Names are now used for matching in operational re-uses too.

(Mentioned in #DUABill debate last night hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2024-1... )
This is a card for Day 19 of the Defend Digital Me National Pupil Database Advent countdown calendar. Identifying and sensitive pupil data has been given away by the Department over 2,500 times, for millions of pupils each time, since 2012. It is pale pink with three multicoloured parcels gift-wrapped in the foreground. The Bauble with 19 is in hot pink above the text.
December 19, 2024 at 4:15 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 18 #Advent2024 A Unique Learner Number system began in 2013 in addition to national pupil records. Each Personal Learning Record includes fully identifying data, a record of studies and exams since age 14. We are rarely told we have one or why. #DataProtection reform #DUABill
Day 18 is white text on a yellow bauble at the top of the image. #Advent2024 A Unique Learner Number system began in 2013 in addition to the pupil records. Each Personal Learning Record includes full personal data, a record of what individuals have studied, and exam results since age 14. This image is a hot pink square background. At the bottom of the image there is a small gingerbread house and at the top a golden bauble with the number 18 in white.
December 18, 2024 at 10:26 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 17 #Advent2024 Are Uni Students in the NPD? Higher #Education data from universities is added to DfE's national pupil records, including sensitive data volunteered in equality monitoring, sexual orientation, disability, religion and more. #DUABill #DataProtection #privacy
Day 17 #Advent2024 Are Students in the National Pupil Database? Higher Education data from universities is added to DfE's national pupil records, including sensitive data volunteered in equality monitoring, sexual orientation, disability, religion and more. This image is a white bauble with a reindeer jumping across the top from right to left, and in the top right corner a hot pink bauble hangs with the number 17 in white.
December 17, 2024 at 8:49 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 16 #Advent2024 Independent Schools do not complete individual level pupil census but submit aggregated data. This means the 7% do not have National Pupil Database records and there is a two-tier level of better #dataprotection and #privacy. This also affects research. #DUABill #PupilData
Day 16 #Advent2024 Who's not in the NPD? (National Pupil Database). Independent Schools do not complete individual level pupil census but submit aggregated data. This means the 7% do not have national pupil records and there is a two-tier level of better data protection. This also affects research. This is an image of a snowman onto which the text is superimposed and a pink bauble with the number 16 hags to the left. He has a carrot nose and two black round eyes. With stick arms each with a hint of a pink white edged glove at the end of each.
December 16, 2024 at 5:32 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 15. The Children in Need (CIN) Census #data is ultra sensitive about children adopted, or in social care, including abuse. Individual records may be made pre-birth for children of children. Why is this at child level at all, not aggregated, for secondary NPD re-uses? #DUABill
Today's advent bauble is day 15. About the Children in Need Census collected by the UK Department for Education and linked to national pupil records in the National Pupil Database. This is about children adopted, or referred to social care, even including abuse factors. Individual records may be made pre-birth for children of children. We wonder why this is at child level, not aggregated data for secondary re-uses?
December 15, 2024 at 8:37 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 14. #Advent2024 If a child leaves mainstream education, their record is collected in the Alternative Provision Census instead of the school one. National Pupil Records include sensitive reasons for each transfer, like pregnancy and mental health need. #DUABill #DataProtection
Day 14. #Advent2024 If a child leaves mainstream education their record is collected in the Alternative Provision Census instead of the school census. The national pupil records include sensitive reasons for each transfer, like pregnancy and mental health need, which are health data and need treated as special category data. Just like the reason 'young offender' which needs additional considerations as a criminal record. This picture is on a pale pink background and in the front a pink boxed gift with a yellow ribbon and grey lid, a pink bauble hangs in the top right corner with the day of the advent calendar, 14.
December 14, 2024 at 8:45 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 13 #Advent2024 Collected termly, directly from schools not parents, the School Census is sent ca 50 times for each child aged 2-18 across their education lifetime to the DfE. Name, postcode, gender, DOB, ethnicity, disability, free school meals, exclusion, absence & more t.co/vQhdQB4CsB #DUABill
Not collected from parents but directly from schools termly, this census is sent ca 50 times for every child between ages 2-18 to DfE. Name, postcode, gender, DOB, ethnicity, disability, free school meals, exclusion, absence and more. This slide is a yellow background with a pink bauble and number 13 in white, with two candy canes at the bottom of the slide.
December 13, 2024 at 11:48 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 12 of our #Advent2024 Calendar Countdown | what more is in the National Pupil Database?
Alongside teenagers’ personal data, results of GCSEs, BTEC, A-/T-Levels, IB and VTQs get sent to the Department for Education too. It’s a massive record now, retained from age 0-18! #DataProtection #Education
Alongside teenagers’ personal data, the results of their GCSEs, BTEC and A-/AS/T-Levels, IB and VTQs get sent to the Department for Education too. It’s a massive record now, retained from age 0-18! This is an image of a white bauble and the text imposed on it and on a green background there are 4 more pink and yellow baubles, one wit the number 12.
December 12, 2024 at 9:33 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
On #HumanRightsDay yesterday peers in the House of Lords discussed the UK #DUABill.

We call for support of a Code of Practice for the #Education sector. Will you #StandUp4HumanRights and take action?

defenddigitalme.org/2024/12/11/dua…#DataProtectiono#privacycy
Children’s data in education “an issue of increasing scandal and concern”. In the Data Use and Access Bill. A blogpost cover for defend digital me with various superimposed images the tip of which is a closed circuit tv camera and text in pink.
December 11, 2024 at 4:33 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 11 of our #Advent2024 countdown about the National Pupil Database.

At age 6-7 and again age 10-11 Key Stage Tests One and Two get collected from every child in state education with scaled scores from maths, reading writing, and optional spelling and grammar tests. www.gov.uk/government/c...
Day 11 of the #AdventCalendarCountdown about the National Pupil Database. At age 6-7 and again at age 10-11 the Key Stage Tests 1 and 2 get collected from every child in state education with scaled scores from maths, reading writing, and optional spelling and grammar tests. This image is a white bauble on a black background with yellow stars, and the defend digital me logo at the base of the image.
December 11, 2024 at 12:27 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 10 #Advent2024 Results of national Multiplications Times Tables Checks, taken by Year 4 pupils aged 8-9 go in too. Named records expand each year, adding primary school tests on top of the termly School Census #Education #DataProtection #DUABill www.find-npd-data.education.gov.uk/datasets/042...
Day 10 of the Advent calendar countdown on National Pupil Data. It’s the results of the national Multiplications Times Tables Check that’s added aged 8-9 for every child. This record is really expanding fast now, adding to the School Census submissions every term. The image is a white circle on a hot pink background with a gold and green drum at the top and green bauble with the number 10, and the DDM logo below black on white. The internet link takes you to more data item details https://www.find-npd-data.education.gov.uk/datasets/0421bf3d-c86a-42f0-9c7d-138ff6e25036
December 10, 2024 at 1:44 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 9 #Advent2024 At age 5 in England, pupils take the Phonics check. School and pupil ID and details plus the score are added into named national records. Even reasons for not taking the test! Parents don't get told this #DataProtection #Education

www.find-npd-data.education.gov.uk/datasets/41c...
Day 9 #Advent2024 At age 5 pupils take the Phonics check. Personal and school details plus the total score are all added to their national pupil record. Even reasons for not taking the test! This image is a pale pink square with hot pink title: The phonics check goes into the NPD too. At the bottom is the top half of a reindeer's head and antlers, and a pink nose -- and on the right, the Defend Digital Me logo.
December 9, 2024 at 8:54 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 8. The ‘Reception Baseline Assessment' data goes into the National Pupil Database at DfE. Baseline test scores can create some of the first national records for children aged 4-5 who weren’t in Early Years. Name, home, school details for every child, plus scores get added. #DUABill #Advent2024
Day 8. The Baseline Test goes into the National Pupil Database. Baseline test scores can create some of the first national records in the NPD for children aged 4-5 who weren’t in Early Years. Name, home, school details for every child, plus scores. Todays graphic i s Day 8 of the Defend Digital Me Advent countdown of facts about national pupil data. This features two bells with some holly on a white circular background, set in a mid yellow square. A green bauble drops from the top on the right with the number eight.
December 8, 2024 at 6:44 PM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 7. The #EarlyYears Foundation Stage Profile #EYFS from children age 2-4 starts the national pupil record for many children in England. Personal details including home address plus the subject and result are included, and data begins to be added to for life

#DUABill #DataProtection #HouseOfLords
The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile from children age 2-4 creates the first national pupil record for many children, with personal details including home address, plus the subject and result.
December 7, 2024 at 10:39 AM
defenddigitalme.bsky.social
Day 6 #Advent2024 Did you know? The UPN is becoming a national ID by the back door, used as a common persistent identifier across the #education sector, Local Authorities and wider national administrative uses. For example, now used by EdTech companies, it was never intended for. #DUABill #databill
Day 6 #Advent2024 Did you know? The UPN is becoming a national ID by the back door, used as a common persistent identifier across the #education sector, Local Authorities and wider national administrative uses. It's now used by EdTech it was never intended for.
December 6, 2024 at 1:49 PM